Method and apparatus for dynamic session placeholder for message collection user interface

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for representing a conversation of related messages is provided. In a message collection user interface for displaying messages sent and received by a communications device, a dynamic session placeholder is used for a respective conversation of related messages. The message collection user interface is displayed including any dynamic session placeholders in the list of messages. As messages from the conversation are occasioned, the dynamic session placeholder is updated. When the message collection is displayed, it is displayed in accordance with the updated session placeholder.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to a user interface for a messagingapplication and more particularly for method and apparatus for a dynamicsession placeholder for a message collection user interface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently user interfaces, particularly graphical user interfaces (GUI)for displaying and accessing messages such as various types of data andvoice messages communicated between a first communications device andone or more other devices are of a “linear” nature. One common manner ofpresenting the messages to a user of one of the devices comprises amessage collection application having a GUI which contains entries thatcorrespond to messages on one-by-one basis. The messages are oftenpresented in accordance with a chronological order of the message suchas time sent or received. Often this linear and singular presentationformat causes the message collection GUI to be overstuffed with singlemessages.

The GUI makes it difficult for the user to find a particular message,reply to a particular message in a “thread” (i.e. common subject) havinga context of all the previous messages, or track the “thread history”,because different messages of the same “thread” can be spread throughoutthe message collection GUI and can be separated by other messages fromdifferent “threads”. Commonly available message collection GUI's forcommunications devices include various email and unified messageapplications such as Microsoft Outlook®, Lotus Notes® and others such asBlackberry message collection for wireless communication devices.

A solution to one or more of these needs is therefore desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the subject matter may be readily understood, embodimentsare illustrated by way of examples in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram which illustrates pertinent components of anexample wireless communication network and a mobile station whichcommunicates within this network;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed diagram of the mobile station which maycommunicate within the wireless communication network;

FIG. 3 is flow diagram showing operations for defining a communicationsession as a dynamic session and using a placeholder for accessing sucha session in a message collection application in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 4 is flow diagram showing a message collection applicationdisplaying entries in accordance with any dynamic session placeholders;and

FIGS. 5-11 are representative GUI display views of a message collectionapplication showing various examples of message operations in accordancewith an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that teachingsherein are applicable to messages received via wired or wirelesscommunication and though a wireless communication device and network arediscussed in the examples, no limitations should be imposed.

Related messages of a conversation are represented as a part of asession. Different sessions may be directly accessed from a messagecollection GUI. A particular session or conversation is represented in amessage collection with a single dynamic placeholder. This allows a userto get access to all the context related messages in “one shot”: fromthe placeholder straight into the active session (conversation). Asession's placeholder dynamically updates it's position in the messagecollection using the timestamp of the last message of the conversationas a criteria. Conversations that are started but which have notoccasioned recent activity will automatically age to the bottom of themessage collection GUI, leaving the top of the message collection GUIfor active sessions defining a hot spot of context related messages. Aplaceholder may be removed from the message collection GUI as a sessionis interrupted (i.e. terminated). As such only valid (active) sessionsin the message collection GUI need be maintained to avoid wastingresources. Terminated sessions may be optionally archived.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system 100 which includes amobile station 102 which communicates through a wireless communicationnetwork 104. Mobile station 102 preferably includes a visual display112, a keyboard 114, and perhaps one or more auxiliary user interfaces(UI) 116, each of which is coupled to a controller 106. Controller 106is also coupled to radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 108 and anantenna 110.

Typically, controller 106 is embodied as a central processing unit (CPU)which runs operating system software in a memory component (not shown).Controller 106 will normally control overall operation of mobile station102, whereas signal processing operations associated with communicationfunctions are typically performed in RF transceiver circuitry 108.Controller 106 interfaces with device display 112 to display receivedinformation, stored information, user inputs, and the like. Keyboard114, which may be a telephone type keypad or full alphanumeric keyboard,is normally provided for entering data for storage in mobile station102, information for transmission to network 104, a telephone number toplace a telephone call, commands to be executed on mobile station 102,and possibly other or different user inputs.

Mobile station 102 sends communication signals to and receivescommunication signals from network 104 over a wireless link via antenna110. RF transceiver circuitry 108 performs functions similar to those ofa radio network (RN) 128, including for example modulation/demodulationand possibly encoding/decoding and encryption/decryption. It is alsocontemplated that RF transceiver circuitry 108 may perform certainfunctions in addition to those performed by RN 128. It will be apparentto those skilled in art that RF transceiver circuitry 108 will beadapted to particular wireless network or networks in which mobilestation 102 is intended to operate.

Mobile station 102 includes a battery interface 122 for receiving one ormore rechargeable batteries 124. Battery 124 provides electrical powerto electrical circuitry in mobile station 102, and battery interface 122provides for a mechanical and electrical connection for battery 124.Battery interface 122 is coupled to a regulator 126 which regulatespower to the device. When mobile station 102 is fully operational, an RFtransmitter of RF transceiver circuitry 108 is typically turned on onlywhen it is sending to network, and is otherwise turned off to conserveresources. Similarly, an RF receiver of RF transceiver circuitry 108 istypically periodically turned off to conserve power until it is neededto receive signals or information (if at all) during designated timeperiods.

Mobile station 102 operates using a memory module 120, such as aSubscriber Identity Module (SIM) or a Removable User Identity Module(R-UIM), which is connected to or inserted in mobile station 102 at aninterface 118. As an alternative to a SIM or an R-UIM, mobile station102 may operate based on configuration data programmed by a serviceprovider into an internal memory which is a non-volatile memory. Mobilestation 102 may consist of a single unit, such as a data communicationdevice, a cellular telephone, a multiple-function communication devicewith data and voice communication capabilities, a personal digitalassistant (PDA) enabled for wireless communication, or a computerincorporating an internal modem. Alternatively, mobile station 102 maybe a multiple-module unit comprising a plurality of separate components,including but in no way limited to a computer or other device connectedto a wireless modem. In particular, for example, in the mobile stationblock diagram of FIG. 1, RF transceiver circuitry 108 and antenna 110may be implemented as a radio modem unit that may be inserted into aport on a laptop computer. In this case, the laptop computer wouldinclude display 112, keyboard 114, and one or more auxiliary UIs 116,and controller 106 may remain within the radio modem unit thatcommunicates with the computer's CPU or be embodied as the computer'sCPU. It is also contemplated that a computer or other equipment notnormally capable of wireless communication may be adapted to connect toand effectively assume control of RF transceiver circuitry 108 andantenna 110 of a single-unit device such as one of those describedabove. Such a mobile station 102 may have a more particularimplementation as described later in relation to mobile station 202 ofFIG. 2.

Mobile station 102 communicates in and through wireless communicationnetwork 104. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, wireless network 104 is aThird Generation (3G) supported network based on Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA) technologies. In particular, wireless network 104 is aCDMA2000 network which includes fixed network components coupled asshown in FIG. 1. Wireless network 104 of the CDMA2000-type includes aRadio Network (RN) 128, a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 130, a SignalingSystem 7 (SS7) network 140, a Home Location Register/AuthenticationCenter (HLR/AC) 138, a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) 132, an IPnetwork 134, and a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)server 136. SS7 network 140 is communicatively coupled to a network 142(such as a Public Switched Telephone Network or PSTN), whereas IPnetwork is communicatively coupled to a network 144 (such as theInternet). Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate thatother networks and associated topologies including GPRS, E-GPRS and UMTSradio networks, among many others, may be employed with the teachingsherein.

During operation, mobile station 102 communicates with RN 128 whichperforms functions such as call-setup, call processing, and mobilitymanagement. RN 128 includes a plurality of base station transceiversystems that provide wireless network coverage for a particular coveragearea commonly referred to as a “cell”. A given base station transceiversystem of RN 128, such as the one shown in FIG. 1, transmitscommunication signals to and receives communication signals from mobilestations within its cell. The base station transceiver system normallyperforms such functions as modulation and possibly encoding and/orencryption of signals to be transmitted to the mobile station inaccordance with particular, usually predetermined, communicationprotocols and parameters, under control of its controller. The basestation transceiver system similarly demodulates and possibly decodesand decrypts, if necessary, any communication signals received frommobile station 102 within its cell. Communication protocols andparameters may vary between different networks. For example, one networkmay employ a different modulation scheme and operate at differentfrequencies than other networks. The underlying services may also differbased on its particular protocol revision.

The wireless link shown in communication system 100 of FIG. 1 representsone or more different channels, typically different radio frequency (RF)channels, and associated protocols used between wireless network 104 andmobile station 102. An RF channel is a limited resource that must beconserved, typically due to limits in overall bandwidth and a limitedbattery power of mobile station 102. Those skilled in art willappreciate that a wireless network in actual practice may includehundreds of cells depending upon desired overall expanse of networkcoverage. All pertinent components may be connected by multiple switchesand routers (not shown), controlled by multiple network controllers.

For all mobile stations 102 registered with a network operator,permanent data (such as mobile station 102 user's profile) as well astemporary data (such as mobile station's 102 current location) arestored in a HLR/AC 138. In case of a voice call to mobile station 102,HLR/AC 138 is queried to determine the current location of mobilestation 102. A Visitor Location Register (VLR) of MSC 130 is responsiblefor a group of location areas and stores the data of those mobilestations that are currently in its area of responsibility. This includesparts of the permanent mobile station data that have been transmittedfrom HLR/AC 138 to the VLR for faster access. However, the VLR of MSC130 may also assign and store local data, such as temporaryidentifications. Mobile station 102 is also authenticated on systemaccess by HLR/AC 138. In order to provide packet data services to mobilestation 102 in a CDMA2000-based network, RN 128 communicates with PDSN132. PDSN 132 provides access to the Internet 144 (or intranets,Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) servers, etc.) through IP network134. PDSN 132 also provides foreign agent (FA) functionality in mobileIP networks as well as packet transport for virtual private networking.PDSN 132 has a range of IP addresses and performs IP address management,session maintenance, and optional caching. RADIUS server 136 isresponsible for performing functions related to authentication,authorization, and accounting (AAA) of packet data services, and may bereferred to as an AAA server.

Wireless communication network 104 also includes a Push-to-talk overCellular (PoC) server 137 which may be coupled to IP network 134. PoCserver 137 operates to facilitate PoC individual and group communicationsessions between mobile stations within network 104. A conventional PoCcommunication session involves a session connection between end users ofmobile stations, referred to as session “participants”, who communicateone at a time in a half-duplex manner much like conventionalwalkie-talkies or two-way radios.

Those skilled in art will appreciate that wireless network 104 may beconnected to other systems, possibly including other networks, notexplicitly shown in FIG. 1. A network will normally be transmitting atvery least some sort of paging and system information on an ongoingbasis, even if there is no actual packet data exchanged. Although thenetwork consists of many parts, these parts all work together to resultin certain behaviours at the wireless link.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a preferred mobile station 202.Mobile station 202 is preferably a two-way communication device havingat least voice and advanced data communication capabilities, includingthe capability to communicate with other computer systems. Depending onthe functionality provided by mobile station 202, it may be referred toas a data messaging device, a two-way pager, a cellular telephone withdata messaging capabilities, a wireless Internet appliance, or a datacommunication device (with or without telephony capabilities). Mobilestation 202 may communicate with any one of a plurality of base stationtransceiver systems 200 within its geographic coverage area.

Mobile station 202 will normally incorporate a communication subsystem211, which includes a receiver 212, a transmitter 214, and associatedcomponents, such as one or more (preferably embedded or internal)antenna elements 216 and 218, local oscillators (LOs) 213, and aprocessing module such as a digital signal processor (DSP) 220.Communication subsystem 211 is analogous to RF transceiver circuitry 108and antenna 110 shown in FIG. 1. As will be apparent to those skilled infield of communications, particular design of communication subsystem211 depends on the communication network in which mobile station 202 isintended to operate.

Mobile station 202 may send and receive communication signals over thenetwork after required network registration or activation procedureshave been completed. Signals received by antenna 216 through the networkare input to receiver 212, which may perform such common receiverfunctions as signal amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering,channel selection, and like, and in example shown in FIG. 2,analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion. A/D conversion of a received signalallows more complex communication functions such as demodulation anddecoding to be performed in DSP 220. In a similar manner, signals to betransmitted are processed, including modulation and encoding, forexample, by DSP 220. These DSP-processed signals are input totransmitter 214 for digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion, frequency upconversion, filtering, amplification and transmission over communicationnetwork via antenna 218. DSP 220 not only processes communicationsignals, but also provides for receiver and transmitter control. Forexample, the gains applied to communication signals in receiver 212 andtransmitter 214 may be adaptively controlled through automatic gaincontrol algorithms implemented in DSP 220.

Network access is associated with a subscriber or user of mobile station202, and therefore mobile station 202 requires a memory module 262, suchas a Subscriber Identity Module or “SIM” card or a Removable UserIdentity Module (R-UIM), to be inserted in or connected to an interface264 of mobile station 202 in order to operate in the network.Alternatively, memory module 262 may be a non-volatile memory which isprogrammed with configuration data by a service provider so that mobilestation 202 may operate in the network. Since mobile station 202 is amobile battery-powered device, it also includes a battery interface 254for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries 256. Such a battery 256provides electrical power to most if not all electrical circuitry inmobile station 202, and battery interface 254 provides for a mechanicaland electrical connection for it. The battery interface 254 is coupledto a regulator (not shown in FIG. 2) which provides power V+ to all ofthe circuitry.

Mobile station 202 includes a microprocessor 238 (which is oneimplementation of controller 106 of FIG. 1) which controls overalloperation of mobile station 202. This control includes network selectiontechniques of the present application. Communication functions,including at least data and voice communications, are performed throughcommunication subsystem 211. Microprocessor 238 also interacts withadditional device subsystems such as a display 222, a flash memory 224,a random access memory (RAM) 226, auxiliary input/output (I/O)subsystems 228, a serial port 230, a keyboard 232, a speaker 234, amicrophone 236, a short-range communications subsystem 240, and anyother device subsystems generally designated at 242. Some of thesubsystems shown in FIG. 2 perform communication-related functions,whereas other subsystems may provide “resident” or on-device functions.Notably, some subsystems, such as keyboard 232 and display 222, forexample, may be used for both communication-related functions, such asentering a text message for transmission over a communication network,and device-resident functions such as a calculator or task list.Operating system software used by microprocessor 238 is preferablystored in a persistent store such as flash memory 224, which mayalternatively be a read-only memory (ROM) or similar storage element(not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the operatingsystem, specific device applications, or parts thereof, may betemporarily loaded into a volatile store such as RAM 226.

Microprocessor 238, in addition to its operating system functions,preferably enables execution of software applications on mobile station202. A predetermined set of applications which control basic deviceoperations, including at least data and voice communicationapplications, will normally be installed on mobile station 202 duringits manufacture. A preferred application that may be loaded onto mobilestation 202 may be a personal information manager (PIM) applicationhaving the ability to organize and manage data items relating to usersuch as, but not limited to, e-mail, calendar events, voice mails,appointments, and task items. Naturally, one or more memory stores areavailable on mobile station 202 and SIM 262 to facilitate storage of PIMdata items and other information.

The PIM application preferably has the ability to send and receive dataitems via the wireless network. In a preferred embodiment, PIM dataitems are seamlessly integrated, synchronized, and updated via thewireless network, with the mobile station user's corresponding dataitems stored and/or associated with a host computer system therebycreating a mirrored host computer on mobile station 202 with respect tosuch items. This is especially advantageous where the host computersystem is the mobile station user's office computer system. Additionalapplications may also be loaded onto mobile station 202 through network,an auxiliary I/O subsystem 228, serial port 230, short-rangecommunications subsystem 240, or any other suitable subsystem 242, andinstalled by a user in RAM 226 or preferably a non-volatile store (notshown) for execution by microprocessor 238. Such flexibility inapplication installation increases the functionality of mobile station202 and may provide enhanced on-device functions; communication-relatedfunctions, or both. For example, secure communication applications mayenable electronic commerce functions and other such financialtransactions to be performed using mobile station 202.

In a data communication mode, a received signal such as a text message,an e-mail message, or web page download will be processed bycommunication subsystem 211 and input to microprocessor 238.Microprocessor 238 will preferably further process the signal for outputto display 222 or alternatively to auxiliary I/O device 228. A user ofmobile station 202 may also compose data items, such as e-mail messages,for example, using keyboard 232 in conjunction with display 222 andpossibly auxiliary I/O device 228. Keyboard 232 is preferably a completealphanumeric keyboard and/or telephone-type keypad. These composed itemsmay be transmitted over a communication network through communicationsubsystem 211.

For voice communications, the overall operation of mobile station 202 issubstantially similar, except that the received signals would be outputto speaker 234 and signals for transmission would be generated bymicrophone 236. Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as avoice message recording subsystem, may also be implemented on mobilestation 202. Although voice or audio signal output is preferablyaccomplished primarily through speaker 234, display 222 may also be usedto provide an indication of the identity of a calling party, duration ofa voice call, or other voice call related information, as some examples.

Serial port 230 in FIG. 2 is normally implemented in a personal digitalassistant (PDA)-type communication device for which synchronization witha user's desktop computer is a desirable, albeit optional, component.Serial port 230 enables a user to set preferences through an externaldevice or software application and extends the capabilities of mobilestation 202 by providing for information or software downloads to mobilestation 202 other than through a wireless communication network. Thealternate download path may, for example, be used to load an encryptionkey onto mobile station 202 through a direct and thus reliable andtrusted connection to thereby provide secure device communication.

Short-range communications subsystem 240 of FIG. 2 is an additionaloptional component which provides for communication between mobilestation 202 and different systems or devices, which need not necessarilybe similar devices. For example, subsystem 240 may include an infrareddevice and associated circuits and components, or a Bluetooth™communication module to provide for communication with similarly-enabledsystems and devices. Bluetooth™ is a registered trademark of BluetoothSIG, Inc.

One function of PIM is to provide a GUI for accessing messages receivedor sent by station 202. A message collection application is an exampleof a user interface for displaying different types of messages receivedand sent by mobile station 202.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example view 500 of a message collectionapplication adapted in accordance with an embodiment. View 500 comprisesa device status portion 502 for showing various device statusinformation such as battery level, wireless network signal level,current time and date, etc., in contrast to message collectionapplication specific information. View 500 further comprises messagecollection application information 504 including a list of messages sentor received by station 202 such as exemplary message 506. Each messageentry in the list typically comprises an icon 508 representative of thetype of message comprising the entry, a time of action 510 (e.g. timesent or received), an opposite message party 512 (e.g. sender for areceived messages and intended recipient for a sent message) and a briefportion of the message or description thereof 514. Less or additionalinformation may also be provided (e.g. message importance, attachmentindicator, size, etc.). Messages in the list may be navigated andselected for operations by moving a focus about the list such as via athumb wheel or other input device 228. The focus may be represented invarious ways such as reverse display mode 516.

In accordance with one feature, messages from a common communicationsession may be grouped and represented in the message collection with asa single entry via a dynamic placeholder for the session. FIG. 6illustrates an instant messaging (IM) session between a user “John” ofmobile station 202 and an opposite IM party “Mike” in accordance withthe prior art. Representative IM view 600 shows a plurality of IMmessages in a conversation with user “Mike” 602 in a similar linear mode604 to prior art message collection applications. Rather than representeach message of an IM conversation in a unified message collection suchas view 500, a single dynamic message collection entry may be definedand maintained during the message session. FIG. 7 illustrates a view 700of the message collection application showing a dynamic sessionplaceholder 702 as a single entry of the messages list for representingthe entire IM session. As new messages are received or sent via station202, corresponding message entries may be added for presenting to theuser via the message collection application. FIG. 8 shows the receipt ofa new SMS message 802 subsequent to the last time or a messagerepresented by dynamic session placeholder 702. Thus a dynamic sessionplaceholder may age in a similar manner to regular message entries.Older conversations move down the list while newer messages and sessionsare at the top of the list.

However, should new activity occur with a session (e.g. receiving orsending of a message), the time stamp of the dynamic session placeholderis updated and its position in the message collection changedaccordingly. FIG. 9 shows a view 900 of the message collection with anupdated dynamic session placeholder 902 in order ahead of aged SMSmessage 802. Message 702 (now message 902) is “removed” accordingly.

As noted previously, particular message entries may be selectedindividually or in a group for action. FIG. 10 illustrates a view 1000of the message collection application showing a dynamic sessionplaceholder message entry 1002 selected for action. A pop-up selectionlist 1004 is activated to present a user with choices for the particularmessage entry (e.g. Open, Mark Unopened, Delete) as well as variousactions which may be invoked from the message collection application(e.g. various message compose options, search options, messagecollection preference options, etc.). Open option 1006 may be invoked tolaunch an IM application (e.g. view 600) to open the particular sessionassociated with the dynamic placeholder to view or otherwise maintainthe conversation. Further messages may be composed and sent (not shown)or received messages reviewed, etc. as is well known.

Should a session terminate, the dynamic session placeholder ispreferably removed from the message collection. FIG. 11 shows a view1100 of an IM session having a pop-up list 1102 of actions for the IMapplication. One action is End Conversation 1104 to terminate the IMsession. Invoking this action preferably updates the dynamic sessionplaceholder to have it removed from display by the message collectionapplication. In this way only active sessions are maintained in themessage collection GUI to free storage space and entries in the list.Optionally, a session which become inactive may be archived or otherwisepersisted for viewing, printing etc. if desired. FIG. 12 illustrates aview 1200 with dynamic session entry 902 removed following an EndConversation 1104 action.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 there is illustrated operations forusing a dynamic session placeholder in accordance with an embodiment.Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that suchoperations may be embodied within computer instructions (software) forconfiguring mobile station 202. With reference to operations 300, an IMsession is initiated 302 between a user of device 202 and another remoteuser (not shown). A dynamic session placeholder is defined 304 forrepresenting the session as an entry within a message collectionapplication. The placeholder may comprise a data structure (not shown)for storing session data including a time stamp, other party, etc. Thedata structure may include the message data of the session of a linkassociating the placeholder to such data (e.g. as maintained by anotherapplication (i.e. an IM application) for conducting the session). Atstep 306, the conversation of the IM session is conducted as messagesare sent and received and the dynamic placeholder is updated in response308. If the conversation is not terminated (310), operations 306-308 arerepeated as necessary. If at step 310 the conversation is ended (e.g seeview 1100) the dynamic placeholder may be removed 312 (or markedinactive for further re-use in some storage re-use embodiments).

With reference to operations 400, meanwhile, the message collectionapplication GUI may be invoked to display messages including any dynamicplaceholders for any active sessions (step 402). Example views are view500, 700, 800 and 900. If a message is selected (404) the actionsassociated therewith may be displayed (406) (e.g. view 1000) otherwiseoperations loop to step 402. An action may be selected by a user (e.g.Open 1006) and invoked (step 408). Some actions will change control ofmobile station 202 to end the current view of the message collectionapplication such as by invoking another application. A determination ofsuch may be made at step 410 so that operations 400 may then end orotherwise in response to the selected action of step 408, operations mayloop to step 402. As the dynamic placeholder is updated by messageactivity of a session, the message collection application automaticallydisplays the updated placeholder in response to the activity. As thetime stamp changes or not, the placeholder's relative position in thelist is changed. No change results in an aging placeholder and a newchange moves the placeholder up the list.

The above-described embodiments are intended to be examples only. Thoseof skill in the art may effect alterations, modifications and variationsto the particular embodiments without departing from the scope of theapplication. The subject matter described herein in the recited claimsintends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in technology.

1. A method of representing a conversation of related messages in amessage collection user interface comprising: defining a dynamic sessionplaceholder for a respective conversation of related messages; anddisplaying said message collection user interface including the dynamicsession placeholder in a list of messages.
 2. The method of claim 1comprising updating the dynamic session placeholder in response to anactivity of the respective conversation of related messages.
 3. Themethod of claim 2 comprising updating a time stamp of the dynamicsession placeholders in accordance with a last message time of therelated messages.
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein said displayingdisplays the dynamic session placeholder in response to said updatingthereby to change the order of said placeholder in said messagecollection.
 5. The method of claim 1 including removing dynamic sessionplaceholder in response to an interruption of a respective conversationof related messages; and wherein said displaying is responsive to saidremoving.
 6. The method of claim 5 including archiving a conversation ofrelated messages in response to said interruption.
 7. The method ofclaim 1 comprising at least one of receiving and sending a messageunrelated to the conversation and displaying the message collection inresponse to said message unrelated and the dynamic session placeholder.8. The method of claim 1 wherein said dynamic session placeholdercomprises data representative of the conversation and an associationwith the related messages.
 9. The method of claim 1 comprising, inresponse to the selection of the dynamic session placeholder, invokingan application associated with a message type of the related messagesthereby to maintain the conversation.
 10. An communications apparatusfor communication messages, said apparatus comprising: a communicationssubsystem for sending and receiving messages; a storage device forstoring instructions and data; and a processor coupled to said storagedevice and said communications subsystem, said storage device storinginstructions and data to configure the processor to: associate relatedmessages as a conversation of related messages; define a dynamic sessionplaceholder for a respective conversation of related messages; anddisplay a message collection of messages sent and received by saidcommunications subsystem including the dynamic session placeholder forrepresenting said conversation of related messages.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 10 wherein the instructions and data configure the processor toupdate the dynamic session placeholder in response to an activity of therespective conversation of related messages.
 12. The apparatus of claim11 wherein the instructions and data configure the processor to update atime stamp of the dynamic session placeholders in accordance with a lastmessage time of the related messages.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11wherein the instructions and data configure the processor to display thedynamic session placeholder in response to an update thereby to changethe order of said placeholder in said message collection.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein the instructions and data configure theprocessor to remove the dynamic session placeholder in response to aninterruption of a respective conversation of related messages andwherein said instructions and data configure the processor to displaythe message collection in responsive to a removal.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 14 wherein the instructions and data configure the processor toarchive a conversation of related messages in response to saidinterruption.
 16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the instructions anddata configure the processor to, in response to at least one ofreceiving and sending a message unrelated to the conversation, displaythe message collection in response to said message unrelated to theconversation including any dynamic session placeholder.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein the instructions and data configure theprocessor to define said dynamic session placeholder comprising datarepresentative of the conversation and an association with the relatedmessages.
 18. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the instructions anddata configure the processor to, in response to the selection of thedynamic session placeholder in the list of messages, invoke anapplication associated with a message type of the related messagesthereby to maintain the conversation.
 19. A machine readable mediumcomprising program code means executable on a computer processor forimplementing the method of claim
 1. 20. The machine readable medium ofclaim 20 including program code means for updating the dynamic sessionplaceholder in response to an activity of the respective conversation ofrelated messages.